(CNN) - The McCain campaign decided this week that the battleground state of Michigan may be out of reach for the Republican ticket this year - a move that's drawn criticism from one prominent dissenter: VP nominee Sarah Palin.

In an interview with Fox News Friday the Republican vice presidential candidate appeared to be disappointed with the decision and said she still wants to take a stab at winning the state that hasn't voted for a Republican presidential candidate in two decades.

She also said she made her disagreement known to top campaign officials:

"I fired a quick e-mail and said, 'oh, come on! Do we have to call it there?' she said. " Todd and I would [be] happy to get to Michigan and walk through those plants [with] car manufacturers.

"We'd be so happy to get to speak with the people there in Michigan, who are hurting because the economy is hurting," she added. "Whatever we can do and whatever Todd and I can do in realizing what their challenges in that state are, as we can relate to them and connect with them and promise them that we won't let them down in the administration."

McCain aides told CNN Thursday Michigan increasingly appeared a long shot the Arizona senator and the campaign had decided to divert its resources there to other key battleground states. The latest CNN poll of polls in Michigan shows Obama with an 8 point lead in the state where the nation's economic woes have hit hard.

soundoff(964 Responses)

So, McCain didn't even bother to tell Palin of his decision? Did she find it from CNN? Or, is she trying cover his face because of the wide spread criticism on his yet another blunder? Interesting...

October 3, 2008 09:29 pm at 9:29 pm |

California Voter

I knew people who were voting for Obama during the primaries over the more experienced Clinton because he was a "fresh face", and that was a deep as their thinking went. The media never dared to say anything negative about Obama for fear of being called racists. Well, Palin is a "fresh face" on the Republican ticket, and I find it interesting that her lack of experience is held against her by the Obama campaign and the press.
Biden tears up in the debate and he is lauded, Clinton teared up on the campaign trail and she was accused of using tears to gain sympathy, support or whatever. Ladies of America, vote as you please, but please recognize the biases. Journalism is dying, if not dead in America.

October 3, 2008 09:30 pm at 9:30 pm |

Amy from Michigan

From what I've read from many news sources, Palin's husband Todd is in many government meetings and is a fixture in Palin's office. I've also read that Governor Palin only allowed two other people to help her come up with Alaska's budget for the year-and one of those people was Todd. And wouldn't you know that Todd's hometown got a new harbor budgeted this year.......

Please tell the Palin Power Couple thanks, but no thanks, to their offer to come back to Michigan. We may just be a bunch of "Joe Six Packs," but we know that a journalist and her champion snowmobile racing husband don't hold the answers to our economic problems.

October 3, 2008 09:30 pm at 9:30 pm |

Ruth Walczak

This moron is a joke, only she doesn't understand that her ego
is bigger than her intellect. We need a strong and serious person
to guide our country not a senile elderly man and his ignorant
vice presidential pick.

October 3, 2008 09:31 pm at 9:31 pm |

Winnie in Montana

There ya go again Governor! When you think, you get in trouble. Pretty sure Sen. McCain didn't pick ya because of your ability to think! I mean, criticizing Katie Couric – she asked the easiest questions. What the governor reads? And the governor couldn't answer? OMG This would be funny if it weren't so darned serious!

Was that folksy enough?

October 3, 2008 09:31 pm at 9:31 pm |

CANADIAN CLUB

WATCHING SARAH PALIN DEBATE LAST EVENING, I THOUGHT I WAS WATCHING THE MOVIE " FARGO". IS IT JUST ME, OR IS SHE A CARICATURE OS SARGENT GUNDERSON, FROM THAT MOVIE? " YA BETCHA", YA DARN TOOTIN", " WELL THERE YA GO JOE".

October 3, 2008 09:32 pm at 9:32 pm |

Arizonan for Obama

GO GO JOE. GO GO JOE.
Biden made Palin look like a complete fool last night. Not that she really needed the help. I am looking forward to celebrating an Obama victory on November 4th. Sarah Palin and John McBush are both insane.

OBAMA/BIDEN ALL THE WAY. NO WAY, NO HOW, NO MCCAIN.

October 3, 2008 09:32 pm at 9:32 pm |

kuriya

Palin do you know the meaning of reckless you will not use the term to refer to people or Obama. You have no idea what that meaning is. The word it is description of you as nominee for McCain. He is using you for his political gain. He put you under his wing for people not to know about his lack of judgement for choosing you as his running mate. By the way stop blinking your left eye. It is not professional especially when you are among other people. You may think it is sexy but it is not. Sorry to say do you have neurological defect that affect your left eye when you are in uncomfortable situation that make the left side of you face react the way you do.

October 3, 2008 09:32 pm at 9:32 pm |

Len in Washington

So...Mr McCain, how does it feel to get run over by Sarah's "Snow Machine Express" on her way to the White House."

This is a dangerous person.

October 3, 2008 09:33 pm at 9:33 pm |

carole

Can someone please explain to me about Joe six-pack? Does Joe need to go to an AA meeting?

October 3, 2008 09:33 pm at 9:33 pm |

MB

Maggie (#39)you are RIGHT – she has NO clue what real people deal with – I would buy it if she would admit that she gets A LOT of help – Gov Palin, please don't pretend to understand us working "folks" – you are teetering on the level of offensive!

October 3, 2008 09:33 pm at 9:33 pm |

Kimberly Florida

Since when is TODD running for office anyway??? I mean, I know he helped her write her budget as gov. of Alaska but since when is HE an intregal part of the campaign? Somehow I can't see McCain with his Napoleon complex being comfortable having a "stud" like Todd taking such a role in the game...

October 3, 2008 09:33 pm at 9:33 pm |

Mark

Palin, a total neophyte in national politics, is now offering coaching to McSame! That's rich!

October 3, 2008 09:33 pm at 9:33 pm |

Swing vote

SCREW YOU CNN, DON'T UNDERSTMATE THE PITTBULL. YOU ARE ALL FOR DEMOCRAT AND YOU ARE FULL OF CRAP,...... THAT'S WHY PEOPLE GET TIRED WATCHING CNN. CNN POLLS ARE GOING DOWN.

October 3, 2008 09:34 pm at 9:34 pm |

Ava

By the way who is Todd? Sara Palin we don't need promises, we need solution, that was a poor speech for a presidential candidate.

October 3, 2008 09:35 pm at 9:35 pm |

susan clarke

I couldn't agree more with Sarah Palin. What was the McCain campaign thinking? I'm a Michigan resident who has been working hard for the ticket. Talk about being "disenfranchised"!!!! What an ill-conceived plan this is!!! We are sick about it. Since when do the polls dictate what is REALLY going on in America much less Michigan? Neither I nor anyone I know has ever been "polled". This decision took the wind out of our sails. We're both shocked and bitterly disappointed. Susan in Michigan.

October 3, 2008 09:35 pm at 9:35 pm |

Brigit

1) Todd? he has no part in this so why even bring up his name.

2) who's taking care of the kids if Palin & her husband are both off playing politics? Boy, some family values.

3) does she really think she has any business making the decisions for the campaign? Power hungry already & they haven't even won.

4) how can some one so completely unqualified, ignorant & silly think herself ready to jump in with the real politicians in DC? She can't even answer simple questions during debate & interviews.

October 3, 2008 09:35 pm at 9:35 pm |

Bill Charlotte,NC

Before you vote consider this.. Where have you heard this before?

Blame the left wing media.... Bush
Refuse to let your staff (VP) talk to the media (secrecy)... Bush
Let folksy substitute for real indebt knowledge... Bush
A Washington outsider and reformer... Bush
Refuse to talk with foreign countries and bluster... Bush
The Vice President wanting to run things and wanting more power .... Cheney

Where else? McClellan/Pellan

It is not just "bringing up the past!"

October 3, 2008 09:35 pm at 9:35 pm |

Some honor

Every answer she's given till today has been reciting what she's been told. The one and only time she broke away from what McCain said, he "recanted" what she said the next day. This is a planned statement by the McCain/Palin team to make it appear as if she can make her own stand and her own choices, not just recite what she's been told.

The McCain/Palin team, aka the GOP, play the game very well.

October 3, 2008 09:35 pm at 9:35 pm |

Swing vote

Screw you CNN, don't understimate the Pittbull, you are all for Democrat and and CNN are full of crap.

October 3, 2008 09:36 pm at 9:36 pm |

Scott

I suppose it's safe to say that John McCain didn't get it, since he can't use a computer.

October 3, 2008 09:36 pm at 9:36 pm |

hannah

Ladies and Gentlemen: Please give a warm welcome to the next President and President of the United States of America - Sara and Todd Palin!!

October 3, 2008 09:37 pm at 9:37 pm |

Maritza

How sad that you have to sound like a politician in this great country of ours, whatever happened for "For the people, by the people"?
Sarah hang in there for all women who have worked with vicious clawing women who are petty, jealous and have very low self esteem.
Carpe diem!

October 3, 2008 09:37 pm at 9:37 pm |

Matt

AHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is really funny....a disagreement. But McCain made the right choice to pull out of the state. He might as well pull out of all the battegrounds, since he has no chance. Republican strongholds like NV, NC, CO,NM,MO,FL, VA are all likely to go blue. Just a month left to go. McBush and Pali(es)n are going down.